After a few years of exploring different styles, I've finally found a style that I feel at home in but I feel there's still progress to make. So, let's analyse seven of my favourite outfits of 2023...
Style evolution: My favourite outfits of 2023
The Thrifty Lookbook: Spring Edition
With temperatures finally rising and skies finally clearing in Scotland in Scotland, now is the time to swap out our winter coats for light, colourful clothing. Spring is associated with floral patterns, pastel colours and light layering. All of this can be achieved with pre-loved clothing. Thrifty fashion is more versatile than most people give it credit for and- with the right pieces- you can create a wardrobe of virtually any style. This new series- along with my Be Adventurous series- serves as proof of just what pre-owned pieces are capable of. So, I've compiled some spring outfits using only secondhand clothing (except shoes)...
Style Essentials: Autumn
What do you love most about autumn? Is it the crunchy bronze leaves littering the pavements? Or the assortment of "pumpkin-spiced" coffees in cafes at this time of year? I love the fashion in the colder months. I love being able to cosy up in comfy jumpers and coats and explore the practicality of fashion. Being able to stay chic during autumn and winter is super important to me- I've written posts about it before. But today, I'll be sharing my style essentials for this season...
Secondhand September: My Latest Thrifty Finds
This month is a great time of year for the zero waste community as it's #SecondhandSeptember. This is a social media trend that challenges us all to only buy thrifted clothing and accessories for a whole month. As many of you know, I already do this. At the beginning of the year, I decided I would only buy pre-loved clothes in 2021, and it's going well so far. I'm lucky to enjoy thrifting and love having a good rummage about for hidden gems. So, after a few months of no shopping at all recently, I was embarrassingly desperate to have a browse in the local charity shops again. So, in the space of a few days, I managed to build up an impressive haul of pre-loved items, and I'd like to share them with you all...
How to Quit Fast Fashion
The fashion industry is one of the most fast-paced industries in the world. Fashion has always been ever-changing, with trends going in and out of season. However, fast fashion companies have pushed their foot down on the accelerator in recent years. As I mentioned in my "Make Do and Mend" article, many retailers have an unbelievable number of collections. For example, Zara has 24 collections per year, which promotes the idea of "disposable fashion". I've been guilty of buying from fast fashion companies before, especially when I first moved to Aberdeen. However, at the start of 2021, I made it one of my new year's resolutions to cut new clothing out of my life. So far, I've been doing well- only allowing myself to buy pre-loved pieces. However, cutting out fast fashion can be quite an intimidating task- especially for a fashion lover. I still find myself tempted to purchase the odd item but, I refuse to buy any fashion items new except accessories, jewellery and shoes. There's plenty of ways to quit fast fashion but here are just a few tips...
My Top Tips for Online Thrifting
As most of you will know by now, one of my favourite things in life is secondhand shopping. However, with charity and vintage shops closed- retail therapy isn't much of an option for us thrifters. Thankfully, there are plenty of pre-loved shopping apps and websites on the internet we can use to scratch that shopping itch. I've been using buying and selling websites for three years- although it's not the same as in-person shopping- I know my way around them and love them! But I know that not everyone knows what they're doing when shopping online- especially secondhand. So I've compiled a list of my best tips for you to make the best of online pre-loved shopping during lockdown...
Be Adventurous: Grunge
Growing up with two brothers born in the 90s- I heard plenty of grunge and rock music when I was young. We had stacks of CDs and drawers overflowing with tattered band tees and distressed jeans. Grunge music and style are nostalgic for me for these reasons, so I was ecstatic to explore and research this form of fashion for my Be Adventurous series. Hand-in-hand with the music genre, the grunge style is one of my favourites to look at on others- but have never really tried it out for myself- until now! So, here's my first proper experience with grunge fashion...
My Guide to a Thrifty Christmas
It's approaching that time of year when we all bring our Christmas trees down from the attic and decorate our homes with tinsel, cards and baubles. There are many reasons to start making thrifty Christmases an annual tradition. It's more eco-friendly as it saves items that are in great condition from going to landfill. It can save a lot of money and you are donating to a good cause by buying from charity shops. However, there's a stigma around buying gifts secondhand. Some people think that giving someone a secondhand gift is cheap and insincere. But I disagree. I don't think there's any shame in thrifting for gifts. Christmas can be a difficult time for those with severe budgets so shopping secondhand is a great way to find amazing gifts for a lot less money. Some parents scrape by for months before Christmas so that their children can receive presents from Santa. Gifts should always be appreciated- brand new or not. So, whether you're looking for eco-friendly gifts or you're on a budget, here's my guide to a thrifty Christmas...
How to Stay Warm without Sacrificing Style
Before I moved up North for uni two years ago, everyone warned me that Aberdeen is freezing- even colder than the rest of Scotland. With that in mind, I've been known to abandon wrapping up to focus on wearing stylish outfits that may not be the most practical. Back when I lived in student accommodation in my first year of uni, my flatmates would question my sanity as I strolled around Aberdeen in November. I would be wearing a skirt, top, and high heels- with nothing covering my legs. Thankfully, I soon realised that wasn't healthy or comfortable for me. So, I experimented with ways to stay warm without restricting my sense of style and fashion. Now that winter is approaching and the temperature is dropping lower and lower, I thought I'd share what I've learned with you all...
My Best Thrifty Finds
As some of you may already know, I love a good rummage in a secondhand shop. I love the unique nature of charity shops, every thrift shop is different each time you visit. I find it much more interesting than regular shopping as you can find retro and limited edition pieces. Now you may be wondering about some of the hidden treasures I've found while thrifting, so I've compiled some of my best secondhand finds for you...
Thrifty Mango 